Stauffer, more than familiar with local architectural traditions and warm climate, incorporated the large covered porches and carefully-placed windows to allow for easy cross-ventilation and an abundance of natural light, while providing shade from the sun during peak hours.

While the Smart Home is aiming for LEED Gold certification, it is arguably not what one might typically expect from a green home, (and HGTV makes this distinction—see more info on this here). The 2,400 square-foot, 3 bedroom, 2 and a half bathroom property features 1,000 square feet of covered porches, a swimming pool and a two-car garage. But with technologies incorporated into the house that aim to “set the standard for creative spaces and ways that consumers can use emerging technology to improve their homes,” the base design and construction are also notably responsible.

HGTV’s Jack Thomasson emphasized to us that he takes “great pride in producing homes that fit perfectly into [and respect] the natural environment,” and that pay tribute to historical homes. Thomasson recruited the architect, Mike Stauffer, as well as all contractors and builders locally. Stauffer, more than familiar with local architectural traditions and warm climate, incorporated the large covered porches and carefully-placed windows to allow for easy cross-ventilation and an abundance of natural light, while providing shade from the sun during peak hours. Before all the technology is in place, Stauffer seeked to use “good design to reduce consumption,” and looked to the traditional architectural elements used along the warm Florida coast, long before we could monitor the carbon footprint of our home with an iPad.